Printing and casting mechanism



March 13, 1928.

F. A. DOLPH PRINTING AND CASTING MECHANISM Filed June 27, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 13, 1928.

F. A. DOLPH PRINTING AND CASTING MECHANISM Filed June 27. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. A. DOLPH PRINTING AND CASTING MECHANISM March 13, 1928.

Illll 711/! IHIIH' llllll 1924 Sheets-Sheet I IIIIH HIIHHIHIIH Filed June 27.

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March 13, 1928. 1,662,145

F. A. DOLPH PRINTING AND CASTING MECHANISM Filed June 27, 1924 .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

means UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

FRED A. DOLPH, OF'WASHINGT ON, DISTRICT 0]? COLUMBIA.

PRINTING AND CASTING MECHANlSM.

Application filed June 27,

ously depressed in word or other suitable combinations, and one wherein it is unnecessary to actuate a space-bar to provide for proper spacing. The machine comprises a plurality of movably mounted type bars, the letters of the entire alphabet being formed on the upper face of each bar. Means are provided for moving the type bars into engagement with the depressed letter keys, thereby bringing into alignment the letter characters it is desired to print. Mechanism is also provided for moving a paper carrying platen into printing engagement with the aligned characters, an entire line being printed in one operation. The parts are automatically returned to normal position.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide, in combination with a rapid type printer ot the above type, casting mechanism for casting a linotype or a nlultigraph slug: at the time the aligned characters are printed, the cast slug having letter characters thereon corresponding to the printed line.

The linotype or casting machines in common use today, for newspaper and other similar work are provided with a key-board and casting mechanism whereby the operator is enabled to cast, from molten metal. a solid slug or linotype bearing on its upper surface characters corresponding to the keys actuated. In order to check the accuracy of the work of the operator, it is necessary to assemble the cast slugs in a proofing apparatus and take a proof of the linotype slugs. lVith my combination printing and casting machine, the operator simultaneously prints the characters and casts the linotype slug, thus obtaining a proof of the cast characters or type without the necessity of setting up the linotype slugs or blanks in a proofing apparatus. Both of these operations may be performed in less time and with less effort 1924. Serial No. 722,779.

than is required to actuate the ordinary typewriter.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide novel type bars, for my combination machine, having raised characters formed on the upper surface thereof for use in the printing operation, and having in their lower surface recessed or indented characterscorresponding to, and in register with, those on the upper surface; to provide an improved valve mechanism for controlling the flow of molten metal from a heated reservoir into the mold; to provide means for positively ejecting a cast slug from the mold; to provide means common to the printing and casting mechanisms for actuating the same; and to provide means for disconnecting the casting mechanism in order that the machine may be employed solely as a rapid type printer when desired. The above and other objects will appear more I fully hereafter.

In order that the. invention may be clearly understood. reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section, of my improved combination machine;

Fig. 2- is an enlarged sectional detail View with parts broken away, of the valve mechanism and delivery chute; Fig.3 is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating the mold mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a detail partly in section of the mechanism for actuating the valve;

5 is a detail plan view of one type of means. that may be employed for disconnecting the linotype or casting mechanism:

Figs. 6 and 7 are side elevation and end views, respectively, of the linotype slug or blank; s

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a portion of one of the type bars;

I Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8:

Fig. 1.0 is a side elevation of one type of mold that may be employed;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view, partly in section.o'f a mold that maybe employed for casting multigraph slugs; 1

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the multigraph mold mechanism;

Fig.13 is a sectional detail illustrating a multigraph slug ejected from the mold; and.

Fig. 14. is a front elevation of a part of ejector bar.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and particularly to Fig. 1, the elements of the machine are preferably supported on a triangularshaped frame having a base 1, a rear upcarriage 6, which is formed as a fiat tray,

rests on plate 3 within the three sides of the carriage frame, and is normally in engagement at its lower end with the lower transverse member 5 of the carriage frame. A transverseopening 7 is provided in the bottomof carriage 6 for a purpose to be described hereafter.

Slidably mounted on the upper surface of carriage 6 are a plurality of type bars 9, each bar having formed on the upper surface thereof capital and. small letters of the entire alphabet, punctuation marks, numerals, etc., and. in the lower surface-thereof, corresponding aligned or registering characters 10 -(see Figs. 8 andtl). Any desired number ofthese bars may be provided, but I have found that fifty-fivewill meet all ordinary requirements. Secured to the lower end of each type bar,'or formed integrally therewith, are selector arms 11 which extend upwardly, at right angles to the bars, and outwardly in a manner that is illustrated and. described in my Patent No. 1,232,246. Normally, the lower edges of arms 11 are in engagement withcarriage 6, as illustrated in Fig. 1. To insure movement of the type bars with carriage 6 and the carriage frame, there are preferably provided a plurality of spring clips '12 positioned in slots, and brazed therein if desired, in the upper and lower carriage frame portions 5 and 5', which clips are normally in gripping engagement with the lower ends of selectors 11. Spring clips 12 also insure movement of carriage 6 with said carriage frame due to their engagement with said selector arms.

Mounted above the lower end of bed-plate 3 and at a. sutiicient height above base 1 to insure easy operation, is a key-board frame comprising upper and lowerv perforated keysupporting, boards 13 and 14 which are rigidly attached in any suitable manner to an outer frame 15. Extending transversely of the machine and positioned at equal intervals between upper and lower supports 13 and 14, are a plurality ofileaf' springs 16, having engagement, preferably, with the upper face of letter keys 17. The latter may be formed of thin metal strips approximately 1 inches long and ,4 inch wide, bent into a curve at the top, and suitably lettered, keys being provided for each letter of the alphabet and as many additional keys being provided as may be necessary for punctuation marks such as the comma, interrogation mark, etc. Keys 17 are slidahly positioned in registered perforations or slots formed in upper and'lower supports 13, 14 and are normally resiliently held in raised position by the leaf springs, as illustrated in ig. 1. A vertical row of keys 1? is provided for each type bar and when 55 type bars are employed, 55 vertical rows of keys will be employed, as shown in my co-pending application above referred to.

Means of any suitable type are provided for selectively controlling the distance the keys 1? may be depressed and for returning the depressed keys to capital letter or normal. raised position. .Such means are fully disclosed in my patent and (re-pending application, and form no part of the present invention, it being only necessary to point out that the keys may he returned to raised position. from depressed position, by actuation of lever 18 which forces a shift bar 19 upwardly and thereby returns the depressed key or keys to their normal raised position. Any suitable type of platen 20, and platen actuating mechanism, may be employed for carrying the paper which forced through opening 21 formed in inking plate 22, into contact-wwith the aligned characters to be printed. The mechanism illustrated forms no part of the present invention and is fully described in my co-pending application referred to.

My rapid printing and linotype machine may be actuated by power means if desired, but preferably the printing operation is manually performed. To this end there are provided on either side of the main frame, stub shafts 23 on which are rotatably mounted sectors 24. which carry at the upper ends of their peripheries, an operating rod 25 ex tending transversely of the machine. \Vhile only one side of the machine illustrated it will be understood that, unless otherwise stated, the various parts are duplicated on the opposite side. The platen mechanism i.-: connected to rod 25 by means of link 26 and crank 27. Secured to the peri 'ihery of sector 24 is a flexible band 28 c. :tcndin; rearwardly over a pulley 29 that is rotatably mounted on a sub-shaft 30 secured to the side of the main frame. The lower end of flexible band 28 is secured to the periphery of a wheel 31 rigidly mounted on a transversely extending shaft 32. Formed integrally with wheel 31, if desired, is a drum 33 having secured to the periphery thereof a flexible member I-M which extends upwardly over a pulley 35 rotatably mounted adjacent the top of the main frame. A weight 36 is attached to the free end of flexible member 3% for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. Secured to member 34-, adjacent pulley 35, is

IOU

= bracket 37.

Any suitable type of casting mechanism may be employed for forming a. suitable slug or blank of the printed line. I consider it desirable, however, to provide common actuating meansfor the printing and casting mechanisms and the two operations arepreferably performed simultaneously. To this end there are loosely'mounted on shaft 32 a pair of drums or wheels 40 (see Figs. 1 and t) provided with grooves 41 in the inner faces thereof, said grooves being circular at their inner portions and helical at their outer portions. Extending into each groove, one at each side of the-machine, is a pin 42 iarried on the lower arm 43 of a bell crank lever that is pivotally securedto bed plate 3 as at 44-. The upper arm 45 ofsaid lever has attached to its extremity a tinnsverse-ly extending mould 46 that is slidably mounted in a mould casing 4.7 which is secured in any suitable manner to the main frame of the machine below bed plate 3. Mold 46', which is adapted for forming a linotype slug, is provided with an ejector plate 48. which, when the mold is in raised or molding position, is withdrawn into a recess 49in said mold, the movement of the ejector being controlled by a pin 50, carried by an arm 51 secured to ejector plate 48, that extends into a curved slot 52 formed in the inner end urll of the mold casing 47.

Pivotally secured to the lower surface of bed plate 3, as at 53, are a pair of lovers 54rprovided at'their lower ends with pins or rollers 55 that have engagement with cam surfaces 56 formed on the outer edges of the peripheries of wheels 40. The upper ends of levers 54 are pivotally connected at 57 to the opposite ends of a valve 58 which controls the flow of molten metal into mold 46. A plurality of circular openings 59 are provided in valve 58, and these openings are normally closed by a plurality of spaced lugs 60 which are formed integral with or secured to mold casing 47.

A reservoir 61 is positioned 'at a suitable distance above valve 58 for receiving the metal to be used in the casting operation. This receptacle is heated by a suitable burner 62 and-is in communication with the alve mechanism via a downwardly extending duct 63. Reservoir 61, burner 62 and duct 63 may be insulated from the adjacent mechanism by asbestos or any othersuitable non-conductor of heat if desired. A receivingutray 64:may be provided. below mold casing 47 forreceiving the cast slugs.

Means are preferably provided for disconnecting the castingmechanisni, whereby the machine may be operated solely as a rapid type printer. The disconnecting mechanism as disclosed comprises a pair of keys 65 slidably mountedin a groove 66 formed in shaft 82, and adapted to be moved into corresponding grooves or keyways formed in the hubs of wheels etO. Projecting from the inner adjacent ends of keys 65 are pins 67 that extend into arcuate slots 68 formed'in a rotatable disk 69 that may be locked in adjusted position by means of set screw 70.

Operation. The parts being in their normal position as illustrated in Fig. 1, and it is desired to cast a linotype slug and print,

for example, the line This line is printed in silence with batten strokes the letter keys for the word This are simultaneously depressed in the foul-left hand vertical columns of keys' 17. The next vertical'column of keys is skipped and the keys for the word line are depressed simultaneously orsingly, as desired, in the next adjacent vertical columns, etc. The letter keys for the line thus being depressed or set, the operator now moves rod 25 downwardly whereby movement is transmitted through bands 28 and 34 to the carriage frame through members at, 4:, platen link 26, and inking rollers 39. The engagement of spring'clips 12 with the selector arms 11 causetype bars 9 and carriage 6 to be moved downwardly along the bed-plate 3. As the selector arms engage the' depressed letter keys 17 the desired characters on the upper and lower surfaces of the type bars'are brought intoalignment directly underneath the opening 21 in inkplate 22. Immediately thereafter inking rollers 39 pass over the aligned characters on top of the bars and continue on to the lower portion of the ink-plate. A lug 71 which projects from the side of the main frame,

in the path of carriage 6, preventsfurther downwardmovement of said *arriage while the carriage frame continues its movement until it encounters the inner face 15' of the end of the keyboard frame. The movement of carriage 6 is arrested at such a point as to bring opening 7 into register with the opening in the upper end of mold casing 47.

Simultaneously with the movements above stated the paper carrying platen 20 is moved downwardly into engagement with the aligned characters and the line is printed. The rotation imparted to shaft 32, by means of the flexible members 28, rotates drums 40 thereby tlorcing the upper arm 45 of the bell crank levers upwardly and causing mold 46 to pass through opening 7 in the carriage 6 and into register with valve 58. Rotations of. drums 40. due to the cam surfaces 56;

swing-levers 54 about their pivots 53 to move controlvalve 58 to open position, i. e. openings 59 are brought into register with the openings between lugs 60. Molten metal in reservoir 61 passes through openings 59 into the mold and flows'upwardly into the recessed characters in the bottom of type bars 9. Escape of the molten metal past the bottom of the mold is prevented by means of the lip 46' of mold 46 which abuts against the lower ends of lugs 60. The use of lug 71 to limit the movement of carriage 6, and the circular form of the inner portion of grooves 4.1, results inimold 46 being held in casting position over an interval long enough to ensure a good casting.

When the operator releases rod 25 weight 36 returns the parts to their normal positions. As the mold 46 moves downwardly to the bottom of the mold asing 47, pin 50, moving in groove 52, forces ejector 48 upwardly and rearwardly and the cast slug is forced into the opening a? formed on the inner surface of the upper roll of the mold casing, the shouldersl-(W (Fig. 10) formed on mold 46, having positively forced the slug downwardly. As mold 46 again moves upwardly the previously cast slug falls into the tray 64. It will be understood that as weight 36 returns the parts to their normal ositions the first operation results in valve 58being closed to prevent any further flow of molten metal from reservoir 61.

If it is desired to operate the machine as a rapid type printer only, the casting mechanism may be disconnected by loosening set screw and rotating disk 69, whereupon keys 65 are withdrawn from engagement with drums l0 and any further rotation im- Plll'itd to shaft 32 is ineffective for rotating said drums and, consequently,for opening the control valve 58. I

Several hours are required at present to set a single page of multigraph material and, so far as I am aware, no means have heretofore been provided for overcoming thisdifliculty. Bythe use of a suitable mold, which may be so constructed as to be interchangeable with the molding mechanism described above, a page of multigraph material may be set with my improved machine in not over ten m nutes, and a proof of the same is obtained while the slugs are being cast. Referring to Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive, 72 is one type of mold which may be satisfactorily employed for casting a multig -aph slug 73. Mold 72. which is provided with a longitudinal shoulder 72', is removably secured as by means of screw 74 to the ends of upper arms 45 of the bell crank levers heretofore described. A mold casing 75, which may be formed integrally, if desired, with the casing 76 of a heater or burner 77, is provided at its opposite s des with curved grooves 78 into which extend pins 79 that are formed on the ends of an ejector beam 80. Rigidly' secured adjacent each end of beam 80 is a supporting member 8t that is rigidly attached at its upper end to a transversely extending bar 82 providedon its lower edge with a plurality of evenly spaced shoulders 83. Spaced at equal intervals intermediate the end of beam 80 are a plurality of ejector rods Bl which extend into openings formed in the rear wall of mold 72. Positioned at the lower end of the spout 63 of reservoir 61 a transvcrscly extending member 86 which is providcd with a plurality of circular openings that are equally spaced at intervals corresponding to the spacing oi. the openings 59 in the valves 58 which has been described above.

When the operator moves the rod 25 downwardly, motion is transmitted by means which have heretofore been described to mold 72 which moves upwardly to casting position as illustrated in Fig. .12. Bar 82 and ejector rods 8-1 are simultaneously moved downwardly due to the pin and slot connection 79, 7S. Continued movement of lever 25 causes the valve 58 to be moved in the direction of its length to bring the openings 59 therein into register with the openings in the apcrtured member 86 and the openings between the lugs or shoulders 83 of member 8]., whereupon molten metal flows into the mold and into the indented characters formed in the lower surfaces of the type bars. Bar 8:2 and shoulder 72 give the slu the form that is illustrated in Fi 13, whicli is the form required in present multigraph machines.

\Vhen rod is released and weight 36 is permitted to return the parts to normal position, valve 58 is first moved to shut olt the flow of molten metal. 'As mold 72 moves downwardly the pin and slot connection 79, 78 force beam 80 upwardly carrying bar 82 out of engagement with slug 73. Continued movement results in the ejector rods 84 engaging the slug on its lower side between the upper and lower shoulders and positively forcing the slug into a pocket formed by the enlarged portion 75 of mold casing 75. The cast slug then moves of its own weight down the inclined surface of casing 75 on to the tray G l.

By the use of my improved machine, expert opcrators can obtain a speed equal to ordinary speech. Operation of the letter keys noiseless. I

lVhile only one form otthe inventive idea has been described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings it is to he expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration onlyand are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention. relereru'e being had for this purpose to the appendedclaims.

Vi hat I claim is 1. A device of the class described com- Eli a means prising a frame, a plurality of rectilinearly movable type bars mounted thereon, said bars being provided with printing and matrix characters, means for selectively limiting movement of said bars in one direction, a platen adapted to co-act with said printing characters, means adapted to co-act with said matrix characters for forming a linotype slug, and common actuating means for said platen and last-named means.

2. In combination with a plurality of movable type bars having two sets of charaeters formed therein, a. platen mechanisan movable into engagement with one of said sets of characters, casting mechanism adapted to co-act with the other of said sets of characters, common actuating means for said platen, type bars, and casting mechanism, and means for setting stops simultaneously for a plurality of said bars.

3. In combination with a plurality of movable type bars having printing and matriX characters formed therein, simultaneously operative elements for selectively limiting movement of said bars for bringing the characters on said bars into alignment, means for printing said aligned printing characters, means for forming a casting of said aligned matrix characters, and common actuating means for said printing and casting means and for moving said type bars into engagement with said first named means.

4C. In combination, a frame, a plurality of rectilinearly movable type bars mounted thereon, said bars having raised characters on the upper surfaces thereof and indented characters in the lower surfaces of the same, means for limiting the movement of said bars, casting means, platen means, and means for moving said platen into engagement with said raised characters and actuatin said casting means. I

o. In combination, printing mechanism including a plurality of rectilinearly movable bars provided with type and matrix characters and platen mechanism, casting mechanism adapted to cooperate with said matrix characters including a receptacle for molten metal and a control valve therefor, a mold, and common actuating means for said bars, said mold and platen mechanism.

6. In combination, a frame, printing mechanism including a plurality of slidable type bars having type and matrix characters formed thereon and mounted on saidframe, casting mechanism carried by said frame, means common to said type bars and said printing and casting mechanism for actuating the same, and means for'setting stops for a plurality of said bars simultaneously.

7.,In combination, a frame, printing mechanism mounted on said frame, cast-ing mechanism carried by said frame, means in eluding a lever, a drum, and flexible means connecting said lever and drum, common to said printing and a casting mechanism for simultaneously actuating the printing and casting mechanisms and a plurality of lettercys movable independently of said .last named means. 1-

8. A device of the class described comprising, in combination with i printing mechanism, a reservoir for metal to be cast,

,means for heating said metal,a mold casing having a curved groove therein, a movable mold in said casing, a valve for controllin the flow of metal into the mold, means for moving said mold and actuating said valve, and means operatively engaging said groove for positively ejecting a cast slug from'saidjmold.

9. In combination, printing mechanism a plurality of rcctilinearly-movable typebars provided with raised and indented cha'ac ters, and casting mechanism mounted below said bars including a mold for] forming nmltigraph slugs, and means for moving said mold to casting position.

10. In a device for forming multigraph slugs the combination of a frame, a plurality of members having indented letter characters formed therein, a reservoir containing metal for forming said slugs, means for heating said metal, a control valve for said reservoir, a mold, and means for simultaneously moving said mold and members toward casting position.

11. A casting device comprising a reservoir for metal to be cast, means for heating said metal, a plurality of rectilinearly movable bars having indented letter characters therein, a mold for multigraph slugs, means for controlling the flow of metal from said reservoir to said mold, and actuating mechanism for said controlling means.

12. A casting device comprising a reser voir for type metal, means for heating said type metal, a mold, a plurality of rectilinear- 1y movable bars carrying type and matrix characters positioned adjacent said mold' and adapted to cooperate therewith, means for controlling the fiow o'f molten metal from said reservoir, and actuating mechanism for said last-named means.

13. A device of the class described com prising a frame, a plurality of slidably dented characters, a platen mechanism adapted to cooperate with said raised characters, casting mechanism adapted to cooperate with said indented characters, and common means for simultaneously moving all of said bars and for bringing the platen and casting mechanism into cooperative relation with said-raised and indented characters respectively.

15. In combination with a plurality of movable type bars having raised and indented characters, means including a manually operable member for moving said bars, means for selectively limiting movement of said bars for bringing type characters on the same into alinement, means for printing the raised alined characters, and means for forming a casting of the indented alined characters, said printing and casting means with, and means for disconnecting said casting mechanism whereby the type bars and platen mechanism may be independently actuated.

-In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

FRED A. DOLPH. 

